Spike Lee has declared that his decision to boycott the Oscars has been vindicated after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences pledged to increase diversity among its members. The director stated that without the public outcry, the changes would not have occurred.
All 20 nominees in the acting categories this year are white, sparking controversy and a social media campaign under the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. Lee, along with actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, announced in January that they would not attend the ceremony in protest.
In response, the Academy's board of governors voted unanimously to double the number of women and ethnic minority members by 2020. Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said the organisation would lead rather than wait for the industry to catch up.
Actor Don Cheadle described the measures as a step in the right direction, while nominee Matt Damon acknowledged that the industry still has a long way to go. Speaking at the Berlin International Film Festival, Lee said the boycott was worth it, noting that the Academy changed its policies just a week after the protest.
